Surgical brace



T. C. WARD SURGICAL BRACE Oct. 1, 1957 Filed July 27, 1954 Thomas C.Ward

IN V EN TOR.

i d States Patent fltice 2,808,050 Patented Octal, 1957 SURGICAL BRACEThomas C. Ward, Waco, Tex. Application July 27, 1954, Serial No. 446,123

Claims. (Cl. 128-18 vertebral bodies from the middorsal through the lastlumbar segment, without the inconveniences encountered in the use ofplaster casts. The brace is particularly adapted to provide a greaterdegree of comfort to the wearer than previously developed devices ofthis general nature by the provision of the simplest and lightest kindof framework which carries various support pads thereon in such a mannerthat the pads readily adapt themselves to the portions of the users bodyagainst which they are engaged, this being accomplished, morespecifically, by a movable connection of the pads to the frame.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improved brace;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the brace as applied to the bodyof a wearer;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lumbar support pads; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing a modification in the braceconstruction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral10 indicates the main portion of the brace framework which takes theform of a substantially rigid, vertical stay member which carries asternal support pad assembly 12 at its upper end and the pubic supportpad assembly 14 at its lower end. These assemblies embody relativelyrigid backing plate members 16 and 18, respectively, which are securedby means of the respective hinges 20 and 22 to the opposite ends of thestay such that they are connected thereto about horizontal or transversepivot axes. The body contacting portion of each respective pad isprovided with a layer of resilient material 24 or 26. The bodycontacting portions 24 and 26 are preferably formed of felt, spongerubber or other similar soft material, and it is to be appreciated thatthese portions are to be made sufliciently thick as to preventdiscomfort to the wearer.

Somewhat below the midportion of the stay 10 is attached a semi-circularresilient band member 28 such that its opposite end portions trailbehind and stay in waist encircling relation thereto, and the oppositeends of this band carry the right and left torso side supports pads 30and 32, respectively. Each of the torso side support pads embodies ametallic backing plate 34 rovided with a resilient, body engaging pad orlayer 36 similar to the pre viously mentioned sternal and pubic supportpads. The lower ends of the backing plates 34 are rigidly connected tothe free ends of the band 28 and these pads, being vertically arranged,extend upwardly from the band in the manner shown. Attached to the stay10 above the band 28 at substantially the height of the upper ends ofthe pads 30 and 32 is a strap anchoring member 38 by means of whichmetal loops 40 and 42 of a pair of flexible strap members 44 and 46 aresecured to the stay. The upper end of each of the pads 30 and 32 isprovided with a further anchoring member 48 by means of which theopposite ends of the straps 44 and 46 are attached thereto. A furtherflexible strap 50 is secured to the upper end of one of the pads andextends therefrom for connection with a buckle 52 secured to the upperend of the other pad.

The free ends of the band 28 carry a flexible strap member 54 and abuckle 56, respectively, by means of which the lumbar support padassembly 58 is attached to the band. l

A metallic anchor strap 60 is secured to the free end of the strap 54and carries at its opposite end a flexible strap 62 for cooperation withthe buckle 56, as will be read ily apparent. A pair of lumbar pads 64and 66 are secured to the metallic strap 60 and each will be seen toconsist of an elongated, vertically disposed backing strip 68 havingaprotective body engaging pad 70 secured thereto and it is to be notedthat each backing strip is slightly arcuated and is secured atsubstantially its midpoint to the strap 60 for a purpose which willbecome presently apparent.

' In use, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, the sternal and pubicsupport pads are engaged against the proper portions of the users bodyand the strap 62 is engaged with the buckle 56 to secure the device andobtain the proper amount of hyperextension. Thereafter, the strap;

50 is engaged with the buckle 52 to complete the proper positioning ofthe torso side support pads 30 and 32. A further flexible strap 72 issecured at one end to the anchor member 74 at the lower end of the stay10, andits free end is engaged with the buckle 76 to complete thesecurement of the brace assembly.

The stay 10 is, of course, of relatively rigid metallic construction,and it is to be noted that the provision of the hinge means 20 and 22for connection thereto of the sternal and pubic support pads 12 and 14permits these pads to flatly engage against the portions of the wearersbody with which they come into contact Without digging or gougingthereagainst and without the necessity of bending the stay 10 to shapefor permitting their flat contact engagement. Ftu'thermore, it will beseen that the band 28, being relatively flexible to twisting motion, ineffect movably carries the torso side support pads 30 and 32 to permittheir proper alignment with the wearers body once the strap 50 issecured. The pads 64 and 66 are, of course, arranged on opposite sidesof the wearers spine, and due to their connection with the remainder ofthe brace by means of the straps 54 and 62, are rigidly but flexiblyconnected therewith such as to afford the maximum of comfort to thewearer. In fact, all the pad assemblies of the brace are movablyconnected with respect to the rigid brace frame and with respect to eachother to properly engage the wearers body with a minimum of discomfort.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, the modification thereinshown will be seen to consist of a sliding joint connection in the upperend of the main portion of the brace framework. The main portion isindicated by the reference numeral '78 and an extension therefor, 88,carries the pad 82 which is identical in all respects to the previouslydescribed pad 12 and corresponds thereto. The connection between thebrace portion 78 and the extension 80 is effected by means of arectangular sleeve or collar 84 which embraces both of these membersand, is rigidly secured to one, such :as the extension, by rivets.

It is, of course, appreciated that the brace portion 78. and theextension 80 are thus slidably interconnected...

such thatthe vertical height of pad 82 may be varied to properly fit theuser.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary.

' What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubicsupport pads secured to the upper and lower ends respectively of saidstay, a resilient, semicircular band secured to said stay between saidsternal and pubic 'supportpads, right and left torso side support padssecured to the opposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, andflexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band andcarrying said lumbar pad.

A surgical bracecomprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubicsupport pads, means securing said sternal support paid about atransverse pivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing saidpubic support pad about a transverse pivot to thelower end of said stay,a'resilient, semi-circular band secured to said stay between saidsternal and pubic support pads, right and left torso side support padssecured to the oppositeends of said band, a lumbar support pad, andflexible strap means secured to the opposite ends of said band andcarrying said lumbar pad.

3. A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubicsupport pads, means securing said sternal support pad about a transversepivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic supportpad about a transverse pivot to the lower end of said stay, a resilient,semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubicsupport pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to theopposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strapmeans secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbarpad, said right and left torso side support pads being ver ticallyelongated and secured at their lower ends to said band, and a flexiblestrap buckle-connected to form a loop and secured to the upper ends ofsaid right and left torso side support pads.

4 A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubicsupport pads, means securing said sternal support pad about a transversepivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic supportpad about a transverse pivot to the lower end of said stay, a resilient,semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubicsupport pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to theopposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strapmeans secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbarpad, said lumbar pad being vertically elongated and secured at itsmidpoint to said flexible strap means.

5. A surgical brace comprising a vertical stay member, sternal and pubicsupport pads, means securing said sternal support pad about a transversepivot to the upper end of said stay, means securing said pubic supportpad about a transverse pivot to the lower end of said stay, a resilient,semi-circular band secured to said stay between said sternal and pubicsupport pads, right and left torso side support pads secured to theopposite ends of said band, a lumbar support pad, and flexible strapmeans secured to the opposite ends of said band and carrying said lumbarpad, said lumbar pad being vertically elongated and secured at itsmidpoint to said flexible strap means, said right and left torso sidesupport pads being vertically elongated and secured at their lower endsto said band, and a flexible strap buckle-connected to form a loop andsecured to the upper ends of said right and left torso side supportpads.

6. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertical staymember includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which thesternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

7. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical staymember includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which thesternal support pad is pivotally mounted 8. A surgical brace as setforth in claim 3 wherein said vertical stay member includes a verticallyadjustable extension portion upon which the sternal support pad ispivotally mounted.

9. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vertical staymember includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which thesternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

10. A surgical brace as set forth in claim 5 wherein said vertical staymember includes a vertically adjustable extension portion upon which thesternal support pad is pivotally mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS639,072 Lyons Dec. 12, 1899 2,453,370 Hittenberger Nov. 9, 19482,582,930 Jewett Jan. 15, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES The Journal of Bone &Joint Surgery, for July 1936, pages 784-6. (Copy in Scientific Library.)

